The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-09-01
Reports from Officers and Commit
tees Show Great Prosperity.

The first anniversary of the Deering Viii
lage Improvement Association was held at
Lewis Hall last evening. A good number
greeted the association at this meeting to
listen to the reports of officers and commit
tees. w. IL. Scott Esq. first vice president,
presided. The report of the President,
Andrew j. Chase, was presented as follows:
PRESIDENT cHAsEs REPORT.
Members of the Deering Village Improve
nlent Association and Citizens:
1t was on Saturday afternoon, Aug. IA,
1886, when, in response to an lmpr0mptu call
goodly number of the villagers of Deering
assembled in the grove on High street, own
ed by John M. Adams, Esq, to participated
in picnic festival. The occasion was SO en-
joyable that those present deemed it incum-
bent on them to continue that festival that
others might learn that at home there were
places and associations quite as attractive,
aud from which as much enjoyment might
DO extracted as from those where distance is
found to be the chief enchantment 1t was
thought, too, that there might be some con-
certed action to make more attractive and to
beautify the home SURROUNDINGS of the vii
lagos for which nature had done so much
So committee to prepare a plan of organ
ization was appointed. and on the evening of
August 21st following a constitution was re-
ported and adopted; also committee was
mIttee reported at third festival, held at
the same place, August 9th; its report was
adopted, the officers were elected, and the
Deering Village Improvement Association
was organized.
Although the field was large, and much
that was needful to be done presented itself.
vet Just where to commence the work and
just what the work at the commencement
should be. was the question with many One
thing, however, was deemed essential to the
nf hn NC l~Nt a
its meetings, its festivals or its entertain
ments in the open air; home must be Sc
cured if possible, and to Capt. Lewis appli-
cation was made and arrangements soon per-
fected for the use of Lewis Hall for series
of years.
The fitting of the hall was partially as
sured by several large, voluntary subscrip-
tions by friends of the association in Deer
ing and Portland. Then came the most sue
cessful fair ever held in town; successful
from financial point of view, and still more
successful in those essentials that exhibit
qualities in the individual, which, through
generous sacrifice and earnest labor, tend to
make the community of one mind upon pub
lie questions.
We have now a very cosy and neatly ar
ranged hall and a supper room completely
furnished, which we can call our capital in
trade. We invested quite sum in this part
of our outlay, but believe that in the end it
will make good returns. Through the series
VI CAOCiiCnb CubCl LIlS pdSL season.
we nearly paid for our upright piano, and ex-
pect to continue with another series through
the coming fall and winter. In the system
of street lighting that we sought to start
quite snm was expended, but as other in
terests took the lead in this matter our ex-
periments were never presented to the town
and were never acted upon.
The reports OF the proper committees to be
presented will contain. all necessary IN
formation as to the work and amount of ex-
pendlture upon school house grounds and
street work, while the report of the treasur-
er will give full exhibit of receipts and ex-
penditures as required by our constitution.
During the past year, the association has
held i've meeting and several festivals, in
Guiding that of Arbor day. Under the au-
spices OF this association. this new depart
ure for our State, Arbor day was more gem
orally observed in Deering than in any 9TH
part OF the State. This seemed eminently
proper and we trust that there will be found
men and women In every town in the State
who will make this day of more Importance
in each succeeding year.
The executive council, which contains
some of our most public spirited men, has
met 10 times during the year, and at nearly
all its meetings more than a majority have
been present, and the utmost harmony has
prevailed ia its procee dingS.
We are under lasting obligations to a large
number of men, women and children for the
personal interest they have taken in all our
work, at all times, and under all circumstan-
ces. 1t would afford us great pleasure to
mention them abby name here but our time
and space will not prove ample. The memo
ry of their work will go with those who have
had the responsibilities of the association
upon them and win always be cherished.
70 the citizens OF Deering, 1t may be as
we'll for me to say that the association has
only begun good work, and that it is for
them to continue it and.see that it is success
fully prosecuted In the future. Our people
are not at all contented with affairs as they
now stand.
1t is said that discomfort is vital element
in civilization" If this is so it can be relied
upon as a remedial force only so far as 1t
stimulates effort to remove its causes. As a
community we have no causes for discomfort
or encouragement that cannot with but little
effort be entirely removed We are Surround
ed with everything that can be readily util-
lied and made to minister to the common and
necessary comforts of life. We are blessed
with good houses, in which healthy and ro-
bust families are being trained. Our schools,
though excellent are constantly being placed
upon advanced grounds while our school
houses show that the citizens of the town
have not been unmindful of their duties in
this regard. We have good churches that
are well filled, and preaching that deserves
generous support. Our natural attractions
and advantages as town are from almost
every point of view greatly to our advantage.
Ii IN the matter of well kept streets and
roads, fine ornamental grounds and parks,
street lights and cleanly kept sidewalks we
may be found lacking, the remedy is easy and
within our reach, and should be at once and,
with united effort, put into operation.
Together with the limited amount of work
accomplished by our association, it is graft
flying to note the large amount of orna-
mental work inaugurated upon almost every
street by occupants and owners of property
The encouragement given by the citizens
of the town to this enterprise is stimulus
to the executive council to commence at
once the work of preparation to secure funds
to continue the work for next year, trusting
that their voluntary efforts in behalf of all
those things that tend to make our houses
more attractive will in the end be fully ap-
preciated by generous community.
Respectfully submitted,
ANDREW j. CHASE, President
The treasurer, II. +. Stafford, Esq, pre-
sented the following report:
REPORT OF THE TREASURER OF THE AssoCI-
ALTON
To the officers and members of the d. " T.